Dannette Mitchell: Strengthening U.S. ties with Africa is vital

Many African-Americans nickname Washington, D.C., "chocolate city," because of its large black population. Well, this notion was expanded this week to "chocolate city in the White House," when President Barack Obama hosted the first U.S. African Leaders Summit — the largest gathering of its kind ever hosted by an American president.

The two-day Summit included African heads of state and government, their spouses, delegations from Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea, and 500 young Africans who took part in the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders.

The Summit was doubly historical and exemplified a cultural connection between Africa and the U.S. because it was held during a time that a son of an African is leading this country.

Both Obama, and first lady Michelle Obama in their speeches, expressed their deeply personal bond to Africa and to its people. Neither one of them hold any shame about their African heritage or ancestry.

The focus of the Summit was to strengthen U.S. ties with Africa. Obama introduced a series of ambitious steps that he believes should be taken to "take our trade with Africa to the next level." He recommends that we: renew and enhance the African Growth and Opportunity Act, strengthen the "Doing Business in Africa" campaign, partner with Africa to build the infrastructure that economies need to flourish, help Africans trade with each other and empower young African entrepreneurs and business leaders.

On Tuesday, the Obama administration announced $14 billion in commitments from U.S. businesses to invest in Africa. While Africa still has many problems to overcome, many extraordinary opportunities exist in this country such as a flourishing middle class, expanding markets and a growing number of ambitious young people who envision endless possibilities in their country.

The United States need new prospects and new ideas. China noted Africa's natural resources, its untapped markets to grow China businesses, and its expanding and highly-educated middle class long ago.

According to economists, since 2009, China's trade with African countries has grown to — roughly $200 billion a year, surpassing the U.S. as Africa's largest trading partner. In 2010, Brazil, Russia and India also joined with South Africa. Together, these countries, including China, represent an output of goods and services of $14.8 trillion.

Africa has always been rich in ivory, gold, oil and coal. Also, 70 percent of the world's cocoa comes from Ghana. In addition to its rich, natural resources, the intelligence, ambition and talents of these people are just as valuable, and they are excited about partnering with the United States.

So what does all this mean, especially for blacks? Opportunity. Blacks should become knowledgeable about Africa and, more so than any group of business people, African-Americans should use links with Africa from a cultural and business standpoint and build relationships with Africans. Here's one: Africa.com. Forming partnerships with Africans should not be done to exploit them, as has been repeatedly done throughout their history.

Black-owned businesses are often reluctant to global trade because of the perceived risks. A former deputy chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Commerce, who heads a global business development firm, suggests that small and mid-size companies partner with other small and mid-size businesses that know the international business market. These businesses should also establish close relationships with trade agencies such as the United States Department of Commerce and Export-Import Bank.

We have been taught myths about Africa in America. The millions of Africans that were kidnapped and brought to America weren't uncivilized, backward people, nor were they savages who had no concept of God. Contrary to Western beliefs, millions of them were noble men and women and whose understanding of God helped to sustain them during slavery and told them that their slave owners' understanding of God was incorrect.

Unlike Obama, many blacks do not have the luxury of knowing their African roots or can trace their family tree all the way back to their clan, tribe and history. Many blacks cannot even trace back their family tree in America because of severed family ties as a result of slavery. Still, blacks can acknowledge that they are descendants of slaves — without shame — yet the offspring of highly intelligent men and women and — heirs of a great continent, amid its arduous challenges.

Black entrepreneurs must plug into Africa and should pursue the benefits of a meaningful and long-term relationship with Africans. Success is the best revenge.